The Judicial Service has come to the defence of Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie following criticism of remarks he made about the management and performance of some state-owned institutions.
The Service said the Chief Justice’s comments were made in good faith and should not be interpreted as an attempt to interfere with or weaken the independence of the Judiciary.
The clarification comes after the remarks generated public discussion, with the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) accusing the Chief Justice of making political comments.
The controversy followed an outreach programme during which the Chief Justice visited a number of state institutions, including the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF).
During the engagements, Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie raised questions about the management of state institutions over the past eight years and made observations about changes in their performance.
His comments subsequently attracted criticism from the NPP, which argued that the statements went beyond the Chief Justice’s judicial responsibilities.
The party called on him to retract the remarks or consider stepping down from office.
Responding to the concerns, however, the Judicial Service said there was no intention behind the Chief Justice’s observations to compromise the constitutional independence of the Judiciary.
In a statement issued on Friday, September 4, 2026, the Service maintained that the remarks were made in good faith and were not aimed at achieving any objective that could undermine judicial independence.
“The observations were made in good faith, and were not intended to serve a purpose inimical to judicial independence,” the Judicial Service stated.
The Service further reaffirmed the Chief Justice’s commitment to protecting the integrity of the Judiciary and ensuring that the justice system continues to operate independently.
It said the Chief Justice remains focused on promoting justice, fairness and equality before the law.
The Judicial Service’s response is expected to help provide context to the Chief Justice’s comments amid the ongoing public debate over the appropriate boundaries of judicial engagement with state institutions and public administration.
